Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. R. KOONS.

, WITNESSES: INVENTOR: @ZfMM/w/flr QM ATTORNEYS.

N. PEI'ERS. Phole-Liihcgmphcn Washmglcm 0. c4

NITED STATES ArnNr FFICE.

JOHN It. KOONS, on sHIGKsHINNY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,441, dated May 23,1882.

Application filed February 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. KooNs, ofShickshinny, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain usefulImproveinents in Fire-Escapes, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to furnish a light and convenientfire-escape, permanently attached to a building in a manner that shallallow its ready manipulation; and to these ends the invention consistsin a flexible ladder constructed and arranged as hereinafter describedand claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a fire-escape constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view. Figs. 3 and4 are detail views, showing the manner the rounds of the ladder areattached. Fig. 5 is detail section of a modification. Figs. 6, 7, and 8are sectional views, showing modifications of construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the case or housing, constructed ofsuitable material, in the form of a long box open at one end.

a a are rods, sustained rigidly within and lengthwise of the box, forguiding and supporting the ladder.

bis a roller, fitted across the open end of the case, for carrying theladder.

The ladder B consists of side ropes, c a, provided with rounds at atsuitable intervals. The rounds are flat loops of half-round iron, placedon the ropes, as shown in Fig. 3, with a fillingstrip, 0, of wood,between the sides. The ends of the loop are clamped by being riveted, orby strapsf, as shown in Fig. 4. The ladder is to be contained in case A,resting on rods a, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner ends of the side ropes,c, are provided with eyes or loops g, engaging the rods a, and at theouter end of the case A the ladder passes over the roller 1).

On the outer end of the ladder is suspended a plate, h, which serves toclose the end of case A when the ladder is drawn up, and also as aweight to assist in starting the ladder down. A rope, i, is attached toplate h, so as to hang therefrom in position for securing the lower endof the ladder to the pavement, if necessary.

In case it is not desired to depend on the weight for starting theladder out, a rope, as shown at in Fig. 1, is provided. This ropeextends into the case over a roller, 1, and is secured to the ladder, sothat when the rope is drawnupon it will pull the ladder along the rodsa. In connection with this rope, a bar, m, Fig. 5, may be provided forforcing the plate h from the end of the case. This bar has forked endsa, that take over rope is in front of aknob or projection thereon, andthe bar extends over the roller b, so that the first movement of theladder, by means of the rope is, carries the end of the bar against theplate h and forces it from its seat.

In Fig. 6,1 have shown a modification in the manner of supporting andguiding the ladder on the rods a in the housing. The rounds (1 projectbeyond the ladder-ropes, and have forked ends that take on the rods.

For long ladders,when a considerable length of rope 7c is required, 1provide split loops 0, attached to rounds (I, as shown in Fig. 7,through which loops the rope passes, and is thus kept from sagging. Asthe rounds reach the roller 1), the rope will draw out of these loops.This figure also shows an arrangement adapted for high buildings to savea useless length of ladder.

p is a rope, attached by loops to the rods (1' in case A, of suitablelength, and engaged by an eye, g, on the ladder, so as to allow theladder to be drawn to the outer end of rope p, where the eye will bearrested by aknob. There are to be two of these ropes p, and they shouldbe equal in length to the distance from the upper window-sill to theroof or other place where the case is secured.

p The case may be secured on the roof or beneath the cornice of thebuilding. When there is room the ladder may be reeled and the reelcontained in asquare box, as shown in Fig. 8.

and the rounds slide therein, in which case the last round should bestronger than the others, and provided with projecting ends to takeagainst stops when the ladder is fully drawn out.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

. The supports a may be of grooved or U form claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters 3. The combination of thecase A, rodsa, lad- 1atentderB, and rope 7r, substantially as shown and I5 1. In fire'escapes, therope ladder B, eomdescribed. bined with the case A, prox'ided with rodsa, 4. The split loops 0, combined with ladder 5 substantially as shownand described. B, case A, and rope is, substantially as and for 2. In afire-escape, the oombination,with the the purposes set forth. ro )es 0of the ladder ofthe rounds d composed 5. The lengthenin -ropes combinedwith 20 l 7 a a p7 of looped metal strips surrounding; the said the caseA and ladder B, substantially in the ropes,the filling-pieces e,ofwood,and the straps manner and for the purposes set forth.

:0 f, for securing the filling-piece between the JOHN R. KOONS.

looped strips and clamping the ends of the \Vitnesses: I said strips tothe ropes, substantially as here- JAMES CRooKETT, in shown anddescribed. E. L. XVILKINsoN.

